ARE "COMBINES" RIGHT?

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 September 1901, Page 2

ARE "COMBINES" RIGHT?

A good outcry was raised the other day when it got rumored about that a " combine " was being attempted in the flour market with the evident intention of controlling the entire trade. We are in no wise displeased at the outcry because these " Trusts," " Monopolies" and "Combines" which are all in favor of the few against the many; are in point of fact against the interests of the community. And all "Combines" seeking the interests of the shareholders or members orily are distinctly against the interests of the community. The State, in tegard to the flour combine, has rightly determined to step in a*nd secure a remedy. Yet a telegram from Auckland shows that the machinery of the State is being asked for to aid a labor combine that is exactly on a like footing to commercial monopolies and combines. The telegram in question comes from Auckland and states that at Waihi the Arbitration Court has opened up to hear a mining dispute in which the chief point of the Unionists case is that since the Board of Conciliation award, the Waihi Company has been working men on contract almost exclusively. The Union, therefore, asks that preference be given to Unionists for contracting as well as for day labor." The Union is to all intents and purposes a "labour combine," and demands of Government that the members of that "combine" shall have preference over workmen who prefer to stand by themselves on their own merits. Why they should have a preference is difficult to say so long as the individual gets the current rate, unless indeed the county declares that individuality in workmen shall not be allowed, that union and combines in labor is the only legal form through which men may earn their daily bread, while at the same time unions and combines in any other matter is declared illegal. We confess the problem is a knotty one, and one that is likely ere long if, unduly pushed, to bring about a crisis that will be more disasterous to the toiler than to the trader or capitalist. Labor must be protected ; but labor must not entrench upon .the legitimate rights of individuals.